The Hindu holiday Diwali celebrates a number of values, according to Hindu YUVA first-year representative and McCormick freshman Aastha Patel — the triumph of good over evil, the burning away of negativity and the transition into a new year. Though Diwali is widely celebrated across South Asia, students on campus aren’t always able to fully.
Northwestern’s first-ever institution-backed celebration of Diwali included a gathering in Cahn Auditorium, a student-created display of nearly 5,000 diyas across campus and Indian dishes in all major dining halls. Religious & Spiritual Life, OM at Northwestern and the South Asian Students Alliance sponsored the Thursday celebration. Amar Shah (Weinberg ’16), NU’s first Hindu chaplain, said.
Northwestern’s first-ever institution-backed celebration of Diwali included a gathering in Cahn Auditorium, a student-created display of nearly 5,000 diyas across campus and Indian dishes in all major dining halls. Religious & Spiritual Life, OM at Northwestern and the South Asian Students Alliance sponsored the Thursday celebration. Amar Shah (Weinberg ’16), NU’s first Hindu chaplain, said.
Growing up, Weinberg junior Pari Thakkar said Hinduism was a significant part of her life. However, after she came to Northwestern, she had no one to go to with questions about navigating her relationship with religion as a college student.
“I think oftentimes, as a secular university, we tend to forget about the importance of religion for those who practice it and choose to rely on it and depend on it,“ Thakkar said.
A chaplain was necessary for the Hindu community at NU, Thakkar said.
The University instituted a Hindu chaplain position after over 150 years since its founding. NU now has an estimated 800 Hindus in its community, inaugural chaplain Amar Shah (Weinberg ‘16) said, based on estimations from the Department of Religious and Spiritual Life.